Thursday, December 03, 2009

I wanted to get my hand into drawing buildings in urban environments. I am not that happy with it for a couple of reasons. As I was concentrating on the building I got caught up in the building itself and didn't leave myself blank areas to put in some foreground items such as the Trimet route/stop sign. I will probably try this one again as this place makes a really good egg salad sandwich on olive bread.

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

One of my favorites is the Science Channel. Last night I watched an episode of The Universe on the theme of liquids in the universe. When thinking of liquids we often consider only liquid H2O or water. The program took us to Saturn's moon Titan. There with temperatures of around -290 degrees water ice would be rock solid, however Methane would be in a liquid form rather than a gas as it would be here on Earth. Liquid methane would present different properties than liquid water. Liquid methane is less dense, clearer due to not breaking down materials as water does. Methane being less dense than water it was suggested that, for a 200 pound man, trying to dogpaddle in liquid methane it would be like trying to do so in water with an 80 weight wrapped around them. Then again, it would be a brave soul who would do so considering that the temperature would be around -290 degrees. Jupiter is a whole different set of circumstances with pressures and temps increasing to the point that liquid hydrogen appears. Continuing further the liquid hydrogen becomes liquid metallic hydrogen. From various computer generated images I sketched this small sketchbook image and an ATC taken from the sketchbook.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Color pencil on paper. Spent Saturday morning watching the grandkids. I spent a lot of the time with my feet elevated to get swelling down, but there was some time spent with them on my lap as we checked Papa's farm, cafe, and roller coaster park on facebook. No visit is ever complete without the light saber fight.

Friday, November 20, 2009

I was in kind of a funk last night about what to sketch. Since the following day was Friday I thought this might be a good time to revive a theme I used for a time last year. Thank God it's Fish Friday. To kick off I did this little Puntius Tetrazona or Tiger Barb. Many years ago I used to have several aquariums and I always had a few of these. They could be aggressive but I never really had any trouble from them. The occasional nipped fin was about all I would witness. They were always an easy sell at the store I worked at back in the day. I managed the fish department in the hardware store I worked. We had about 30 tanks to display all types of fish and these guys were ever present. Beautiful in schools.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

I have a small stack of composition books that I use for taking notes when reading and such. I enjoy learning new things and the practice helps to provide a jumping off point to working the information into my brain. Other times the book is just used to record thoughts and events. I have been known to glue in short articles I found interesting at the time. Yesterday while waiting while Marjorie was going through a medical procedure I did a little doodling.

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

I have considered this before, but it doesn't seem to me that sheep would count sheep in order to get sleepy. This raises the question, what do sheep count? Here is my take on the subject. No animals were hurt during this investigation.

I do believe it is about time I revived this blog. Inspiration has been lacking in large part due to too much work making me a boring boring guy. This is a quick little sketch I did during lunch today in my 3x5 sketchbook. No color, just simple ink lines.

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

You've seen them.....short, slender grays........little and green.......tall, fierce, hunter humanoids.....but I think I have discovered why they have short little legs.....there just isn't that much headroom. Dachshunds are not of this world.

Monday, January 05, 2009

I have this old computer desk downstairs in the basement that I have been using for a radio desk. Lately I have been contemplating moving it upstairs without the radios for use as an art table. I spend so much time in the basement with work that the last thing I want to do is spend more time down there. There is a pop-out area that has a large window at the side of the house that I am thinking of putting this desk. I think it would be ideal. There is a built in bench downstairs that I could put the bulk of the radios and keep them available for use.

All I need is the energy and the spark to clear the desk and get it ready for next Saturday when I have some help dragging it upstairs.

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Saturday night on Oregon Public Broadcasting is one of my favorite nights. Travel and British Comedy...and if I can stay up late....Mystery.

Rick Steves of Edmonds, Washington had filmed new episodes the middle of last year and OPB has been airing them. This week he took us to Denmark outside Copenhagen (Copenhagen was last week). I may never make it to Europe, but thanks to Rick Steves (I have his box set of all 70 episodes) I get to visit anytime I wish. On Saturday evenings I also travel with Seattle photograper Art Wolfe, and then there is the Globe Trekker group.

Friday, January 02, 2009

It is already 2009. These flip of the calendars seem to be coming around a lot faster these days. Looking back at my sketchbook, it is disappointing to see that over the last few months I have been very negligent about spending time with them. I intend to correct that this year. At least everyday I resolve to put something into my 3x5 sketchbook and as often as possible something into my larger books. I even went out New Years Eve and bought some fresh Microns.

Spent the afternoon of the day in Salem with my son and his wife as we were unable to get together for Christmas. It gave us a chance to see their new house. We spent the previous Saturday with my other son and his wife and the grandkids. Christmas day we were all shut in with a couple of feet of snow. Our daughter spent that week with us since the school she works for was shut down for Christmas vacation. Since I commute to my basement I carried on as if nothing happened.